The Sunlight Experiment

Herbal Actions

Anti-inflammatory

Reduces inflammation

Calms the body's inflammatory response, easing the heat, swelling, redness and pain that travel with it. Central to managing arthritis, allergies, and skin and gut complaints; some act in part like anti-inflammatory drugs, so take care if you already take them.

How it works

Anti-inflammatory is not one mechanism but several overlapping ones. Each of these is its own herbal action — follow a link for the herbs strongest in that mechanism.

Antihistamine Blocks histamine, easing allergic and inflammatory responses. Antiallergic Reduces allergic over-reactions, calming the histamine release behind hay fever, hives and allergic asthma. Antianaphylactic Helps blunt severe, whole-body allergic reactions — supportive only; anaphylaxis is a medical emergency needing adrenaline and urgent care. Antipsoriatic Helps relieve psoriasis and related scaling skin conditions. Antirheumatic Relieves rheumatic joint and muscle inflammation. Antiarthritic Eases arthritic joint inflammation and pain.

Key constituents

The compound classes most often behind a anti-inflammatory action.

  • Salicylates
  • Curcuminoids
  • Boswellic acids
  • Flavonoids

Indications

What typically calls for a anti-inflammatory herb.

  • Arthritis and inflamed joints
  • Muscular aches and injury
  • Inflammatory skin and gut conditions
  • Allergic inflammation
  • General inflammatory pain
⚠ Cautions

Some act on the same pathways as anti-inflammatory drugs; take care if you already take NSAIDs or blood-thinning medication.

Herbs with a anti-inflammatory action (74)

Key herbs

Herbs for which anti-inflammatory is a headline action.

Abuta

Cissampelos pareira

AnalgesicAnti-AbortiveAntifertilityAntibacterial

Albizzia

Albizzia lebbeck

AntiallergicAntihistamineHypolipidemicAnti-inflammatory

Andrographis

Andrographis paniculata

BitterImmunomodulatorAnti-inflammatoryAntimicrobial

Calendula

Calendula officinalis

VulneraryAnti-inflammatoryLymphaticStyptic

Cat's Claw

Uncaria tomentosa

ImmunomodulatorAnti-inflammatoryAntioxidantAdaptogen

Chinese Skullcap

Scutellaria baicalensis

AntiviralAnti-inflammatoryAntiallergicAntibacterial
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Abuta

Cissampelos pareira

AnalgesicAnti-AbortiveAntifertilityAntibacterial

Albizzia

Albizzia lebbeck

AntiallergicAntihistamineHypolipidemicAnti-inflammatory

Amaranth

Amaranthus blitum

NutritiveDemulcentAnti-inflammatoryAntioxidant

Andrographis

Andrographis paniculata

BitterImmunomodulatorAnti-inflammatoryAntimicrobial

Ashwagandha

Withania somnifera

AdaptogenSedativeTonicAnti-inflammatory

Astragalus

Astragalus membranaceus

AdaptogenAntioxidantAntiviralCardiotonic

Calendula

Calendula officinalis

VulneraryAnti-inflammatoryLymphaticStyptic

Cat's Claw

Uncaria tomentosa

ImmunomodulatorAnti-inflammatoryAntioxidantAdaptogen

Catnip

Nepeta cataria

SedativeCarminativeDiaphoreticNervine

Chanca Piedra

Phyllanthus niruri

DiureticHepaticAntiviralAntioxidant

Chinese Skullcap

Scutellaria baicalensis

AntiviralAnti-inflammatoryAntiallergicAntibacterial

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum morifolium

Anti-inflammatoryAntipyreticNervineAntioxidant

Cornflower

Centaurea cyanus

AstringentAnti-inflammatoryBitter

Devils club

Oplopanax horridus

AntidiabeticAdaptogenAnti-inflammatoryExpectorant

Echinacea

Echinacea purpurea

ImmunomodulatorAntimicrobialAnti-inflammatoryLymphatic

Erva Tostao

Boerhavia diffusa

DiureticHepaticAnti-inflammatoryAntispasmodic

Feverfew

Tanacetum parthenium

Anti-inflammatoryVasodilatorEmmenagogueAperient

Frankincense

Boswellia serrata

AntioxidantAnti-inflammatoryAntimicrobialCarminative

German Chamomile

Matricaria chamomilla

Anti-inflammatoryAntispasmodicAntiallergicAntibacterial

Ginger

Zingiber officinale

CarminativeAntiemeticAntispasmodicCirculatory Stimulant

Goldenrod

Solidago virgaurea

DiureticAnti-inflammatoryAstringentAntimicrobial

Gotu Kola

Centella asiatica

NervineNeuroprotectiveNootropicVulnerary

Holy Basil

Ocimum tenuiflorum

AdaptogenNervineAnxiolyticAnti-inflammatory

Horopito

Pseudowintera colorata

AnalgesicAntibacterialAntifungalAnti-inflammatory

Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens

DiureticAntilithicAnti-inflammatoryAntispasmodic

Jatobá

Hymenaea courbaril

AntifungalAntimicrobialAstringentAnti-inflammatory

Magnolia

Magnolia officinalis

AntioxidantAntiallergicAntiasthmaticAnxiolytic

Manuka

Leptospermum scoparium

Anti-inflammatoryAntibacterialAntifungalAntispasmodic

Marshmallow

Althaea officinalis

DemulcentEmollientDiureticExpectorant

Milk Thistle

Silybum marianum

HepatoprotectiveAntioxidantCholereticCholagogue

Nigella

Nigella sativa

Anti-inflammatoryAntioxidantAntiallergicAntidiabetic

Peony

Paeonia lactiflora

AntiandrogenicAnti-inflammatoryAntispasmodicDopaminergic

Peppermint

Mentha × piperita

AntiemeticAntitussiveAntimicrobialAntispasmodic

Pine

Pinus spp.

AnalgesicAnti-inflammatoryHypolipidemicAstringent

Rehmannia

Rehmannia glutinosa

AntiallergicAntihemorrhagicAnti-inflammatoryAntipyretic

Rosewood

Aniba rosaeodora

Anti-inflammatoryAphrodisiacAntidepressantNervine

Samambaia

Polypodium leucotomos

AlterativeAnalgesicAnticancerAntioxidant

Sarsaparilla

Smilax spp.

Anti-inflammatoryAnalgesicAnticancerAntioxidant

Saw Palmetto

Serenoa repens

Anti-inflammatoryAntiprostaticAntispasmodicAntiandrogenic

Shatavari

Asparagus racemosus

AdaptogenFemale-tonicDemulcentTonic

Slippery Elm

Ulmus rubra

DemulcentEmollientNutritiveExpectorant

Stevia

Stevia rebaudiana

HypoglycemicAntihypertensiveAnti-inflammatoryVasodilator

Stinging Nettle

Urtica dioica

AlterativeAnti-inflammatoryAntilithicAntimicrobial

Turmeric

Curcuma longa

Anti-inflammatoryAntioxidantCholereticCholagogue

Willow

Salix alba

AnalgesicAnti-inflammatoryAntipyreticAstringent

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

BitterAntioxidantEmmenagogueDiaphoretic